Casino in Pine Bluff holds surprise “soft opening”

(Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com)
PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) – A casino in Pine Bluff held a surprise “soft opening,” four days before its planned grand opening.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the Oklahoma-based Quapaw Nation’s Saracen Casino Annex opened at 6 p.m. on Friday with about 300 slot machines and a full service bar.
Saracen Casino Resort spokesman Carlton Saffa said that the facility is a preview of the 80,000-square-foot casino that will have a 13-floor, 300-room hotel across the street by the end of next year. Saffa said the soft opening was planned to be by-invitation only, but those plans were changed because of high interest.
The Arkansas Racing Commission in June approved the license for the casino after Arkansas voters last year approved a constitutional amendment legalizing casino gambling in four counties.